Gorillaz app will help you get a job at Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover has teamed up Gorillaz to help find the engineering stars of the future – by launching a special code-cracking recruitment drive within the virtual reality band’s app. Those who manage to crack the code will be fast-tracked through the recruitment process, promises JLR.

JLR needs to recruit 5000 people this year, and more than 1000 of them will be electronics and software engineers. To reach smart-thinking talent it might otherwise overlook, the premium car firm is collaborating with Gorillaz in, says its head of electrical engineering Alex Heslop, “a radical rethink of how we recruit”.

A collection of vehicles featured in past Gorillaz videos

Within the Gorillaz app is now a JLR recruitment area, situated in the garage of the band’s home. As well as vehicles from past videos, there’s also a two-part challenge. The first is an electric vehicle tutorial, where people assemble a Jaguar I-Pace concept car and learn how it works as they go.

The second part is the tricky bit. Via an alternate reality game, numerous code-breaking puzzles “test their curiosity, persistence, lateral thinking and problem solving skills”. Those who perform well will be accelerated through the recruitment process.

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Jaguar Formula E Racing ambassador and Gorillaz guitarist Noodle introduces the challenge, encouraging gamers to try and “land yourself THE most badass job you can imagine”.

Heslop says the app is the first of its kind and is an “engaging way to recruit a diverse talent pool in software systems, cyber systems, app development and graphics performance”.

JLR hopes the Gorillaz app recruitment challenge will help solve the UK’s acute engineering skills shortage. Already, companies report there are not enough talented new engineers; if left unchecked, the problem will continue to worsen as the automotive industry transforms into electric drive, autonomous drive and ever-greater reliance on software.

If using the app isn’t for you, traditional recruitment channels are open at www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com… but the firm is still encouraging smart-thinking software whizzes to download the app and “fast-track their way into employment”.

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